Shoe construction



Nov. 26, 1957 J. MONTOSCURO SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 29. 1953 26 awe94 1%]? IN V EN TOR. 1 08C ZlJO United States Patent 2,814,132 PatentedNov. 26, 1957 ice SHOE CONSTRUCTION Joseph Montoscuro, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 29, 1953, Serial No. 389,003

3 Claims. (Cl. 36-37) This-invention relates to shoe structures formens, womens, and childrens shoes, and more particularly relates .to animprovement in insole and shank constructions to make. it possible for aperson to walk straight without overrunning the heels, and particularlyin womens high-heeled shoes to prevent the heel from becoming misalignedbecause of the slight support provided by the usual shoeconstructions.

The invention has among its objects the production of a shoeconstruction for mens, womens, and childrens shoes in combination withthe conventional heel and sole which maybe incorporated in shoes as theyare originally manufactured or shoes already in use, and in which acustom shoe operation by a shoe repairman, the improvement may beapplied to the original shoe construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved insoleconstruction for mens, womens, and childrens shoes which may be appliedto existing shoes by the wearer without requiring the services of askilled shoe repairman.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insole construction fornew and used shoes for relieving the shocks to the human system incidentto walking on the sidewalks, and particularly to insole constructionsfor boots and shoes for use in diminishing such shocks either in walkingor standing over long periods of time at ones occupation.

Still another object of the invention is the production of an insoleconstruction and shoe constructions for minimizing and relieving theshocks to the heels, feet, and other parts of the human body.

Still another object of the invention is the production of an insole forboot and shoe constructions which may be readily applied to the bootsand shoes for the purpose of minimizing any shocks or fatigue in walkingor standing, which is long-lasting, and wherein the resiliency may beadjusted to conform to the weight of the person wearing the shoes or theparticular needs of the person.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved shoeconstruction, particularly for certain types of womens shoes, which willassist in maintaining the shoe in place on the wearers foot in walkingand will also prevent ankles from becoming turned over.

Still another object of the invention, particularly with respect towomens high-heeled shoes, is to prevent chafing across the back of theheel by the straps.

A further object of the invention is the production of a shoeconstruction for incorporation with footwear in which the device isunaffected by the elements.

Still another object of the invention is the production of an insoleconstruction and footwear incorporating the device which is durable,efficient, economical, requiring a minimum of parts, and wherein theserviceability is not decreased over a period of usage.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure'herein given.

Applicantis aware that there have been'many inventions in the past andalso that there are devices on the market for the purpose of relievingshocks to the foot and particularly-to the heel. Although applicantsdevice is incorporated for use with shoes having leather, composition,or rubber heels in which the composition or rubber heel is primarily fordecreasing the shock to the wearer, nevertheless, because of its wear,this utility of the composition or rubber heel decreases with wear untilthe heel becomes run over or worn out. With applicants device,resiliency is maintained throughout the use of the shoe regardless ofthe amount of wear; and, because of an improved construction for-womensshoes, particularly in the arch and heel construction, the tendency forthe heels to turn over is prevented, and-there is improvement in thewearers ability to walk properly. Although resilient members, in thepast, have been provided between the portions of the heel pad and theheel construction, the present device is not unsightly and, in normaluse, is unseeen. The type of spring used in such that, when collapsed,the thickness thereof is substantially one coil and the conical spiralspring selected corresponds to the amount of resiliency required for thewalking characteristics of the wearer, and permits the shoe to benormally positioned with each step taken. Applicants construction may bereadily applied to any style of boot or shoe whether mens, women's, orchildrens without altering substantially the outside appearance thereof,and is equal 1y adaptable for either fancy, dress, or work boots andshoes.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an insole construction incorporting theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating theconstruction for providing resiliency to the insole of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, adaptable forwomens shoes, illustrating an improved insole construction for use withnew or used shoes;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation in section, taken along the line 44 ofFig. 3, illustrating the heel insert and resilient construction of theinsole.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an insole construction 10which in the fabrication of new shoes may be applied thereto, or alsomay be applied to new and used shoes to improve. the walkingcharacteristics of the person by preventing turning over of the heels,especially in womens high-heeledfshoes, and the running over of thelifts of the heel whether leather, composition, or rubber. The insole 10includes a heel portion 1-1 provided with a hole 12 to receive a conicalspiral spring 13. The number of coils and the. compression may bevaried, depending upon the characteristics of the wearer, though, fornormal use, a spring which may be readily compressed by ones hand issufficient. .A head pad 14 has a semicircular pad 15 which is cementedabout the periphery of the pad to the bottom of the heel pad providing asemicircular pocket-like means, leaving at the:diameter of the pad anopening 16 in which the upper coil 17 of the spring 13 may be insertedto retain. the coil in place as it is assembled. The front end of theheel pad 14 is formed with. two tapered tabs 18,,which arecomplementally formed to be inserted within the slots -19. of theinsole. The slots 19.are. formed. as illustrated in Fig. 2 to receivethese tapered tabs 18, and the forward bottom edge 20 of the heel pad isalso suitably skived to reduce the thickness so that, whenv assembled,the heel pad appears as a continuation 'of an insole The size of the Jspring is also such that, when compressed, the spring is retained withinthe hole 12 since the coils of the spring nest.

Although a preferred construction of this form of insole is preferrablyformed from leather, it is to be understood that it may be suitablyformed from plastic material or combinations of thin sheets of leatherand foam rubber, or felt constructions to provide a soft innersoleconstruction to absorb the shocks encountered in walking.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated another embodiment ofthe insole construction and one which is particularly adapted for customrepair of womens shoes to particularly prevent the heel of high-heeledshoes from turning in or out because of the improper stride of thewearer in walking. An insole 21 is similarly provided with a heelportion 11 as the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 with a hole 12 for thereception of a conical spring 13. In this embodiment, it is preferredthat the spring shall be reversed as shown in Fig. 4 from the positionof the spring as shown in Fig. 2. A transverse pad 15' extends acrossthe heel pad 14 as shown in Fig. 3, and is suitably adhered at each endto the heel pad 14'. A large coil 22 of the spring 13 is slid throughthe opening 23 provided by the transverse pad 15'.

A heel plate 25 formed of suitable ferrous metal, preferably a highcarbon steel, although other suitable nonferrous material such as brassmay be used, the type of material depending upon the weight placed onthe shoe. It is preferred, however, to use a heat-treated, thin steelheel plate. The heel plate 25 is complementally formed to the shape ofthe heel portion and shank portion of the insole, and is provided withcountersunk holes 26 for the application of suitable securing means 27and 28. The securing means 27 may be in the form of a wood screw whereasthe securing means 28 is a countersunk machine screw and special nut 28.The heel plate 25 is provided with slots 29 conforming to the slots 19of Fig. l. The slots 29 receive the metal tabs 30, which extend throughslots 31 in the heel pad 14', Fig. 3, and the ends of the tabs areturned over at 32 and crimped to affix the tabs to the heel pad. Theheel pad is also skived at the bottom front edge to permit the heel pad,when assembled, to be substantially a continuation of the insole. Themetal tabs 30 perform the same function as the tapered tabs 18 but themetal permits of greater flexing and longer wear than the integrallyformed tabs of leather. The inner ends 33 of the tabs are also morefirmly latched than the inner ends 18' of the tabs of the embodiment ofFig. 2, since the heel plate 25 is firmly affixed to the insole when theinsole is assembled in a shoe construction. Although this constructionis primarily adapted for custom remodeling, it is equally adaptable as areplaceable insole without being afiixed and placed within the shoe bythe securing means 27 and 28. The heel pad and insole of thisembodiment, likewise, may be fabricated from other material thanleather, such as plastic or combinations of plastic and leather withsponge rubber or felt inserts for both the innersole and the heel pad.

A shoe utilizing the construction of Figs. 1 through 4, when worn,remains correctly positioned on the wears foot and does not tend to flopor clatter as the wearer walks, particularly womens shoes. The shoes arealways correctly positioned so that there is no tendency for the wearerto walk incorrectly with the shoes to cause the heel to turn inwardly oroutwardly, depending upon the walking characteristics of the personwearing the shoes. Therefore, the shoes utilizing the construction ofFigs. 1 through 4 serve as corrective shoes to aid the wearer in walkingand standing correctly. In this manner, the wearer is less fatigued andthere is less damage to the shoes, especially those of the high-heeledtype, that it is necessary to discard them after a slight usage whereasnormally shoes should last until it is necessary to have them resoled orbecome scuffed and badly worn. The improved construction permits theheel lifts to be worn off, preferably on the rear edge, than to have theimproper wear on the right or left edges since the construction permitsthe wearer to walk properly.

It is thus evident that there has been described a simple insoleconstruction and embodiments thereof for assembly in shoes as well as aconstruction for use in custom-rebuilt shoes or shoes as originallyfabricated, which are simple in construction, economical to manufacture,and easy to assemble either by the wearer or a shoe repairman.

It is also evident that the devices and constructions of this inventionmay be worn with shoes having either leather or composition lifts orrubber heels. The use of rubber heels with this type of device would beoptional with the wearer since they will not interfere with the correctoperation of the construction. The device, although preferably made toovercome the running over of womens high heels, is equally applicablefor mens or boys shoes wherein excessive wear is caused by the improperwalking habits of a person. It is also of particular value where aperson must stand for long periods of time in one place, and where theworkshoes or boots are heavy and may have steel plates or cleats appliedto the heels or to under surfaces thereof. A construction has also beendisclosed wherein the coil spring may be readily replaced when theresilience thereof has been destroyed or where it is desired to have aspring of different compression, depending upon the weight of theperson. For ordinary usage, however, the spring need not be compressedto any greater extent than the usual rubber heel is deformed to obtainthe same degree of resistance to shock when in use by the wearer.

A construction has also been disclosed wherein after the shoes have beenworn out, the spring may be removed and replaced; and, if the resiliencyof the spring has become impaired, a new one may be replaced or the oldone deformed to restore its resiliency.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an insole for a shoe, said insoleincluding a heel portion provided with a hole for the reception of aconically formed spring within the thickness of the insole at the heelportion, a heel pad hingedly mounted at the shank portion of the insoleand complementally formed with the heel portion of the insole, and meansformed on the heel pad for operatively afiixing the coiled spring to theheel pad to permit the coiled spring to extend within the hole providedin the insole.

2. An an article of manufacture, an insole for a shoe, said insoleincluding a heel portion provided with a hole for the reception of aconically formed spring within the thickness of the insole at the heelportion, a heel pad hingedly mounted at the shank portion of the insoleand complementally formed with the heel portion of the insole, meansformed on the heel pad for operatively aflixing the coiled spring to theheel pad to permit the coiled spring to extend within the hole providedin the insole, said heel pad skived at its inner edge contiguous to theshank portion of the insole and provided with laterally spaced taperedtabs, and said insole provided with slots complementally formed to thetapered tabs for operatively receiving the tabs for hingedly mountingthe heel pad to the insole.

3. As an article of manufacture, an insole construction comprising aheel portion and a shank portion, said heel portion being provided witha hole, a heel plate provided with a hole complementally formed to thehole of the insole, means for afiixing the heel plate to the heel andshank portion of the insole, a heel pad comprising means for operativelymounting a spring between the bottom of the heel pad to extend withinthe aforesaid holes, said heel pad being skived at its inner shank end,a plurality of metal tabs for hingedly mounting the heel pad to the 5heel plate, each of said metal tabs extending through the skived portionof the heel pad at one end and aflixed thereto, and the opposite ends ofthe tab complementally formed for operatively mounting within slotsformed at the shank portion of the heel plate. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS211,178 Pease Ian. 7, 1879 15 6 Barber Nov. 22, Thompson Aug. 25, FosterOct. 13, Geiger May 30, Capata June 11, White July 11, Hiss Feb. 26,Butzen Feb. 4, Weinberg May 20, Nabokin May 9, Everston Sept. 20, CiaioDec. 14,

